I Challenge You!

Be Challenged!

Log into the free Super Tracker app to invite friends, family, & co-workers to a ready-made nutrition & activity challenge. Or, create your own!

Research consistently shows that healthy food choices & regular physical activity can help reduce your risk of or improve many chronic health issues.

It doesn't have to be tough... For example, March's challenge has been "My Plate, My Win":  For 2 days, eat 2 foods from each My Plate food group _&_ do 2 physical activities. Super Tracker also has great tools & practical advice from nutritionists.

Or, do you want to showcase what foods make NC great? Read about "My Plate, My State". Note: 
Entries are due 4/4.

Check out the many wonderful tipsheets & resources available at Choose My Plate. Its Super Tracker website even offers a curriculum for high school students & a worksite wellness kit.

Fruits & Veggies Help You Savor the Flavor...

Fruits & vegetables can be a great way to add color, flavor, texture, & vitamins to your meals. But, "savor[ing] the flavor of eating right" (this year's National Nutrition Month theme) doesn't have to be tough or costly.

Just ignore the loaf of bread...

Here are some common concerns & how to address them.

• Fruits & veggies are too expensive.
• Buy fresh produce in season. That makes them cheaper, healthier, & tastier. The NC Dept of Agriculture has a great availability chart.
• Buy in a quantity you'll use. Proper storage can also help. Learn more with Fruits & Veggies More Matter's Fruit & Veggie Storage 101.
• Consider frozen or canned items. They can be healthy alternatives & give more flexibility. Choose low salt or low sugar options whenever possible. Learn more at the American Heart Association's ...All Can Be Healthy Choices.
• I don't know how to add more fruits & veggies.
• Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics' 20 Ways to Enjoy More Fruits & Vegetables
• Eat Smart Move More's Eat More Fruits & Veggies
• Fruits & Veggies More Matter's Picky Eaters
• Rachael Ray's Sneaking in Fruits & Veggies for the Picky Eater
• Where can I get fruits & veggies?
• Check out Got to Be NC's Farmers Market Directory.
• Not your style? Click on "Stores & Restaurants" for other local options.
• Or, consider growing your own. Many can be done in containers.

Need a one-stop resource? Check out ChooseMyPlate's Healthy Eating on a Budget for menu suggestions, shopping tips, etc.

How Daylight Saving Time Impacts You

No, it's not all in your head... Time changes (as we spring forward Sunday morning) can herald some predictable trends including more car wrecks, workplace injuries, strokes & heart attacks, "cyberloafing" (but, our blog doesn't count!), etc. One popular theory involves the difficulty sleeping or sleep habit changes often related to the time change.

For more info & tips to cope, check out:
- RealSimple's 8 Weird Ways Daylight Saving Time Affects Your Health
- WebMD's Coping With the Effects of Daylight Saving Time
- ABC News' Body Clock Never Adjusts to Daylight Saving Time
- TimeandDate.com'sThe Pros & Cons of Daylight Saving Time

Don't forget to change alkaline batteries in your smoke & carbon monoxide alarms once a year. Doing so when you change your clocks is a great way to remember. Learn more at Consumer Product Safety Commission.

National Nutrition Month-- Savor the Flavor!

Happy National Nutrition Month!

Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics

For decades, America has been described as a melting pot. When you add in the variety of ideas & resources available online; travel &/or relocation trends; & food movements to both try new things & embrace the past, the options are endless...

From a health perspective, "ethnic" dishes can be great. Many traditionally offer fruits, vegetables, & spices not found in our usual diets. All 3 offer health benefits. Not all dishes are created equal, though. So, choose wisely. Include leaner cuts of meat & whole grain starches whenever possible. Serve (or ask for) sauces on the side. Here are recipes & other tips!
 
Recipes
- National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute's Delicious Heart Healthy Recipes (search by category or look on the left side bar for heart healthy family meals, African-American style, Latino, etc., recipes... The ones I've made have been absolutely delicious!)
- Reader's Digest's 10 Easy & Delicious Ethnic Dishes
- Family Circle's Ethnic Recipes

Eating Out
- Food Network's 6 Healthiest Ethnic Cuisines
- WebMD's Ethnic Eating Out Tips
- Mayo Clinic's Ethnic Cuisine: Tips for Making Healthy Choices (slideshow)